Jason Kelce, Sweatpants And $37.5 Million

“Why seven years? I don’t really know,” Kelce said. “They told me what the numbers were, and I was like, ‘That sounds pretty good to me.’ I think the longer for me the better because I really, truly don’t want to play for any other organization. I’m happy with this city, this team, these coaches. I’m really excited to be here and I have been since Day One.”

Last offseason, even when the Eagles were without a coach, Kelce was in the building. He lives in the area year-round and works out at the NovaCare Complex pretty much daily. Last year he was rehabbing a knee injury that ended his season two games into the 2012 campaign.

Now, in many ways, he's become an organizational favorite. The front office got him in the sixth round of what otherwise was a disastrous draft back in 2011. Chip Kelly loves everything about the Kelce - from his athleticism to his smarts. And he is well-liked by his teammates in the locker room.

"I come down to breakfast every day and he’s here, he’s working," said GM Howie Roseman. "And it’s February. And it’s because he loves to be here. He loves the game of football. He has an incredible passion for this city, for this football team. And then he’s explosive, he’s got traits in his body, what kind of player he is. So you put all those [things] together and that’s what we want. That’s what we’re trying to build a team of."

At just 26-years-old, he could have signed a shorter deal and then tried to cash in again down the road. But that's not how Kelce was thinking.

"I think I’ve got more than enough money to be comfortable," he said. "I wear sweatpants and T-shirts every day. I don’t wear jewelery or anything. I don’t know that I need that much. But it’s certainly more than enough to live comfortably."

Added Roseman: "When we started talking to Jason, there were certain things that were important to us. There were certain things that were important to him. And to his credit, one of the things that was important to him was an opportunity to play his whole career in Philadelphia."

The contract will keep Kelce with the Eagles through the 2020 season. It's worth $37.5 million and includes $13 million guaranteed.

While he had a really good year in 2013, Kelce knows there is room for improvement. He said right now is "bulking season" and he wants to get bigger and stronger in the coming months.

"My weight’s something that I just continually have to watch," Kelce said, noting that he played last year between 285 and 295 pounds. "I wasn’t born a heavy guy. That’s something that I have to keep pounding into myself, so I would definitely like to be heavier next year though."

After being on an 8-8 team his first season and watching from the sidelines as the Eagles went 4-12 in 2012, Kelce finally got a taste of the playoffs last season. And he believes the future is bright.

"I haven’t been this excited for a football season since I can remember," he said. "With the way we ended it, with the way it looks like everything is headed, the genuine enthusiasm that everybody has, this is an exciting time to be a Philadelphia Eagle."

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Andy

Deadspin is going to have an online chat with Kelce and Connor Barwin at 1:30 this afternoon.

Excellent Read. Connor Barwin is a pretty on point dude. I had the pleasure of chatting with him one night at Union Transfer for a show. One of the most down to earth, well rounded, incredibly nice guys I have ever met.

knighn

That is a MUST READ.
When I saw the link I thought it was about Connor Barwin or an interview with Barwin… didn’t realize that the article was written BY Barwin.
Excellent insight into NFL locker rooms!

EaglefaninAZ

That was thoroughly awesome.

TNA

Required reading. For fans. For opinionators. For journalists. For just about everybody. So many different reasons to read this piece.

Maggie

Some of the Dolphins are still defending or excusing and saying the Wells report got it wrong, yet several veteran players who have been in other locker rooms state they’ve never seen anything so bad. I know who I choose to believe. And Barwin could have a career as a writer himself. I’m thinking more a novelist or biographer than reporter.

http://www.corcommunity.com/ theycallmerob

there’s a reason this man is my avatar.
love you j-dog. keep rocking those sweatpants.

I forget when I saw that, It was back when Watkins was a projected starter, hence the fire truck. I think it was shortly after he went on IR in ’12. Or at least that’s when I spotted it. Mathis, Kelce, Herremans, and Watkins would goof hardcore and put all kind of crap on the internet. Like paying Watkins to eat worms and all kinds of crap.

Panthers are trying to become Dallas South? have 22 free agents, massive cap numbers to restructure and they spend money on a kicker

Ark87

They’re kind of a mess. One of the big misconceptions about them is that they are an ascending team because they crushed national expectations last season due to the emergence of a lot of young talent. Unfortunately for them they have a lot of money tied up in older players. They’re a bit strapped. That FO has a hell of an up hill battle ahead of them retaining their talent and then taking the next step to being a top SB contender.

Token

They caught lightning in a bottle last year. They still have Cam Newton. They arent a team I worry about.

Ark87

The D is legit and young where it’s good. If they can keep that core together, take their lumps clearing out that old money, have a solid draft somewhere in there, they can be very good in a year or 2, but I don’t believe in that front office.

cliff henny

that’s the issue, they cant. wont be able to retain it all unless they go restructure crazy and said they wont. on offense, nothing behind smith, so if defense isnt lights out, looking at a quick bounce back to middle of the pack.

anon

I’d try to restructure everyone that wants to play there — seems like most people do — everyone else can go.

cliff henny

eagles will pass by them this year.

anon

Cam can do as much as RW does.

http://www.corcommunity.com/ theycallmerob

except they’re a mess from Hurney, the new guy seems to have a clue. Just acknowledged it’ll be a mess until after ’15

cliff henny

Cam’s coming due too. it’s a solid mess. Smith is plenty pissed, offense was futile without him and nothing behind him. Hardy wants paid. does not sound like a vey harmonious relationship between FO and players.

GEAGLE

They talking to Hardy who ain’t giving any discounts. He wants to be super paid. And they already gave Charles Johnson a mega deal at DE..

peteike

this stinks, after they threw out Ganos name and his stats I was hoping we could get him in camp. Oh well, there are a lot of kickers out there that can be an improvement. I just wonder how much nonsense commitment to a draft pick they have at this stage. Too risky to have a suspect kicker when so many games are so close

Michael Myers

fuhhhhhh…damn, wanted this dude in midnight green…

Khalid Washington

Ok so we locked up young players for the long haul. I hope PLEASE they make some significant moves for this defense. I’m not one of those copy the Seahawks people but we’ve needed a safety forever. I’m assuming Nate Allen is gone? I’d like him back to compete with a draft pick (Deone Bucannon or CP) and depth at Corner. Plus we need depth behind Trent Cole and DeMeco. DEFENSE TIME HOWIE AND CHIP!!

Stuart Philp

Nate Allen has never lived up to his potential after getting injured his first year. Last season was his first ‘real’ season imo, and he looked okay. I think he’s worth keeping around to compete for a spot. You need 4 safeties, Nate Allen is good enough to be #3 or #4.

anon

Not a lot of great options in FA this year. There were good ones last year which makes me a little annoyed we didn’t do anything, but whatever.

GEAGLE

What good ones?
..
How much better is Goldson then Whitner?
..
I guess Quinn is an upgrade to Jenkins, but I was never really thrilled about the idea of Quinn.
..
What other safeties were there? Delmas and Clemons are back on the market again and Pollard wasn’t cut til we already had signed Chung and Phillips(I remember cuz I was pissed lol). Who am I forgetting?

Khalid Washington

Agreed. Get him on a short deal with options if they want to relapse him. Let him compete for a starting spot

GEAGLE

If we didn’t have Meco, I would be begging for Dqwell Jaxs…as long as he doesn’t sign with the skins, I’m happy

Khalid Washington

Yea I’m hearing the skins will kick the tires in Dqwel. I will say this much also, these signings make it look more and more like we won’t address the safety needs ala Jairus Byrd/TJ Ward. I know these dudes don’t grow on trees for you to pluck and put on your team. But I mean come on….does the front office see the same statistics we do? Our passing numbers were horrible defensively. Some of it is a product of Chips offense being hurry up. Doesn’t mean you don’t fix a glaring hole which is magnified every year a little more that Dawk is gone

GEAGLE

I actually still think we would offer either a contract if they don’t get Franchised by Monday. We won’t be the most lucrative offer on the table, but we are starting to look like a sexy desired destination again both on the field and dealing with our front office, Howie has been masterful at building a quality team while also wiping away the ugly banner image of our front office…
…
I’m still holding out hope that Chips connection with both safeties(Billy Davis with Ward) and playing in a major market, with an up and coming playoff team, will make one leave like 3 million on the table to sign with us..as much as I like both players, after spending their entire careers in football sess pools Browns and the Bills, if thy turn down 40mil from the Eagles to take 43million from the friggin Raiders, then they are a joke and we are better off with out them.
…
right now there is still some type of hope they don’t get franchised. Monday is D day..if they are going to get franchised, I wish they would just do it today and put me out of my misery

peteike

great points about this now being a destination, so true. The Chip connection has to help, Im just not thinking either is leaving their current team. I hope Im wrong, it would at least be nice to have a chance for one of em in FA.

GEAGLE

Yes, at this point it would be a surprise if they didn’t get tagged..but I been dreaming of Jarius for two years, I can’t give up il the fat lady sings. Bought to kidnap Bills GM and hold him hostage til after Mondays deadline for the franchise Tag..between Framing Lyerla for another cocain charge and kidnaping Bills GM til Monday, I’ll be a busy boy

GEAGLE

In two weeks everyone will find out that Kelce is really the “yellow king” love this grizzly bastard!!!

Token

great show.

GEAGLE

Pissed it ends in two weeks..we won’t get any type of closure and be dying for season two

Token

I forget the word for it, but its a show that is a new story every season with all new cast. So this story wraps up in the next two episodes. I love that way of doing it.

GEAGLE

Nooooooo!!!! There is so much more they can do with this story, how are they going to wrap it up in two more hours? Wish you guys didn’t tell me that..but thanks for the reality check..figured season would end showing the yellow king and season two would be where everything happened…
…
Any word on next years main charecters yet?

There was a pretty funny twitter meme last week (#TrueDetectiveSeason2 if you wanna look it up) where people put forward suggestions. They’ll need a big name to follow up Matt and Woody. Those guys have been incredible

peteike

ya, American Horror Story started that, its a cool way to keep a show interesting I think through many seasons. I love how Woody is exec producer and hires all those gorgeous woman to get naked on top of him, must be nice

anon

His mistresses deserve WAY more screen time.

GEAGLE

Oh that ass certainly does

Richard Colton

The one girl – the stenographer – was in Always Sunny. She’s unbelievably hot.

Aussie Eagle

It’s called anthology, and yes it is awesome – no 9 month long cliff hangers!

jabostick

You’ll get all sorts of closure. Each season is it’s own story with its own cast

GEAGLE

Another FA to keep an eye on is Vikings CB Chris Cooks, now he has been a bust since coming into the league in 2010 as the #34th pick in the draft… but I wouldn’t mind our awesome coaches taking a cheap flier on his,6’2 212lb frame…but it would have to be CHEAP in case he don’t get his ish together and we cut him..
…
Problem is he isn’t dumb, and would love to work with zimmer who has saved a few CBs careers

anon

His agent didn’t tell him years don’t matter unless there’s guaranteed or dead money in them? I need to be an agent. Does an agent get paid upfront off the big number or retroactively based on cash actually received?

cliff henny

Incognito went all Walter Sobchak on his own car “can you hear me, now, Larry” and had to check himself into padded cell…couldnt happen to nicer guy

GEAGLE

Yeah he admitted to smashing his Ferrari with a bat! claiming he was “venting” lol, now he is In Arizona seeking treatment lol…dudes losing what’s left of “it” lol

anon

I’d lose it too — he was high strung in the first place — now his career is over and he feels misunderstood. The ferrari is probably $20k to knock those dents out and fix the grill — no biggie.

peteike

not that I sympathize but its understandable. I cant imagine the whole world hating me. Its one thing to say you dont care what others think, this is on a whole other level.

http://www.corcommunity.com/ theycallmerob

I could care less for that a$$, but man if that’s not one of the best scenes in movie history.

YOU SEE, LARRY? YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU F%CK A STRANGER IN THE ASS?!

GEAGLE

Kelce is the rare type you can give a 7yr deal to, you know he ain’t in it for the money, and if we are ever strapped for cash in the future, seems like a guy that would restructure so that the team can use extra cap space to improve.
..
Thrilled that he is focused on getting bigger and stronger
..
Our players seem Genuinly excited for the future under Chip..that’s an awesome sign!

anon

Could give a 100 yr contract if it’s free to cut after 3 years. Honestly if i’m his agent i’d have fought for more guaranteed money in the back end. Just enough so they gotta think twice about cutting, but enough that there’s room to restructure.

GEAGLE

Doubt he needs to worry much about getting cut. He ain’t the type to get paid and stop busting his ass. We treat this dude like a seasoned Vet, but in reality this will be his 3rd season, and he is already the top rated center, and for him to accomplish that the first year in a brand new offense with a new line coach, who implemented new techniques,ndrastic ally different from our former line coach…that friggin scary impressive that he is this good, this soon…Stoutlands style is all about blocking via angles, to where Mudd wanted you to block like every play was run action, and Juan used a Verticle step(I know he didn’t play under Juan)

aub32

Even though it’s not huge guaranteed money, he’s currently one of the highest paid centers in the league

doc75

got a feeling he is gonna be an Eagle for life.. We need more players/ people like him…

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